ATM Thefts

16/08/2017 Officers investigating a cash machine ram raid are urging members of the public to be vigilant for suspicious activity. It is believed the incident at the Sainsbury's in Bingham Lane, Cotgrave, at around 4am on Monday, may be linked to other similar recent incidents across the region.

A telehandler which was stolen from East Bridgford was used to smash a wall down and left at the scene before the cash machine was loaded on to a pick-up truck. A white Audi saloon car was also seen at the scene. The pick-up truck was found abandoned in a field in Kirby Bellars, Leicestershire, but the Audi has not yet been traced.

Detective Sergeant Michael Broddell, of Nottinghamshire Police, said the offence followed a similar pattern to other recent incidents that had happened across the region and urged people to be aware and report anything that may seem suspicious, such as construction vehicles being driven around in the early hours of the morning.

He said: "These offences almost always take place in the early hours and involve the use of a telehandler, a pick-up truck to take the cash machine away and then what is often a performance car as the final getaway vehicle.

"The offenders almost always use ratchet straps to remove the cash machines which are often discarded in nearby fields.

"Once stolen, the cash machines are taken to secluded barns or similar where they are cut up using angle grinders. The offenders conduct reconnaissance to identify these premises prior to the offences.

"Even offences as minor as causing lock damage to gates may be an indication that offenders intend to use the location to hide vehicles or as a dumping site after the offence."

He added that these offences have been taking place throughout the region recently but there was a distinctive focus along the Nottinghamshire and Leicestershire border.

Anyone with information about the incident is urged to contact Nottinghamshire Police on 101, quoting incident number 71 of 7 August 2017, or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111. If you want to report any suspicious activity, please use the same numbers.